How to Clean Bath Toys and Remove Mold
Bath toys are notorious for harbouring mold and bacteria inside their hollow bodies. Squeezy rubber toys in particular draw water inside during bath time — that water sits in a warm, dark interior, creating ideal conditions for mold growth. The black particles that come out when you squeeze a bath toy are mold colonies.
Cleaning Squeezy Bath Toys
Fill a bucket with a solution of 1 cup of white vinegar per 1 gallon of warm water. Submerge the toys and squeeze them repeatedly to draw the solution inside. Let soak for at least 30 minutes. Squeeze out the interior liquid and repeat the filling and squeezing several times to flush the inside. Allow to air dry completely — squeeze out as much water as possible first, then leave in a dry, ventilated area for several hours before returning to bath storage.
For Visible Mold Inside
If you see black spots coming out of a toy, the interior mold may be too established to fully remove. Bleach solution (1 tablespoon bleach per gallon of water) is more effective than vinegar for killing established mold — draw the solution inside, leave for 10 minutes, then flush thoroughly with clean water multiple times. Rinse until there is no bleach smell before giving back to children. If you cannot flush out the bleach smell completely, discard the toy.
Preventing Future Mold
- Squeeze out all water from each toy immediately after bath time
- Store bath toys in a mesh bag or draining container — not a container that holds water
- Allow toys to fully air dry between baths
- Seal the hole in squeezy toys with a hot glue gun to prevent water from entering — the toys still work as bath toys but can no longer hold water inside
Hard-Surfaced Bath Toys
Solid plastic or rubber toys without holes can be cleaned in the dishwasher on the top rack (without heated dry), or soaked in a vinegar solution. These are significantly easier to keep clean than hollow squeezy toys.
Professional Bathroom Deep Clean in Toronto
For a full bathroom deep clean including tub, tiles, and fixtures, Maidless Toronto offers flat-rate service. Book at maidless.ca.